American Democrats and Israel

In his negotiations last week with the Israelis and Palestinians, Secretary of State John Kerry must have reminded them that it has long been clear that the sympathies of the American public are more favorable to Israel than to their adversaries in the Arab-Israeli conflict. For many years, the Pew Research Center has been conducting national surveys on this issue. The latest one, in March 2013, reaches the same conclusion as previous surveys, finding that 49 percent of those consulted sympathized more with Israel, while 12 percent sympathized with the Palestinians.
What is new, however is the growing difference between Republicans and Democrats in their attitudes to Israel. Today, 66 percent of Republicans say they sympathize more with Israel than with the Palestinians, compared with 49 percent of independents and 39 percent of Democrats. This compares with a 1978 survey that showed the relative support by the three of 49 percent, 45 percent, and 44 percent.
Nevertheless, all...(Read Full Article)